One Trip Around the Sun (19 page)

Right. It’s all fun and games until your pants don’t fit anymore.

Rachel disappears down the hall and I quickly toss on a pair of cozy sweatpants and my favorite Chicago Cubs T-shirt. When I sit down on the bed, I realize just how tired I am. All this traveling is starting to catch up. Rachel returns moments later with two spoons and a pint of Ben and Jerry—my two favorite men. Her grin is electric and I realize just how much I’ve missed her since August.

“I suppose it’s not all bad news though.”

“What do you mean?” she asks, offering me a spoon.

“Well, for starters, my parents won’t be here to dictate how I curl my hair for graduation,” I smirk. “Anyway, I really don’t want to think about them right now. Besides, I have something to tell you.”

“Lay it on me.”

“There’s a job interview in—”

“An interview!”

I nod and fight my grin, trying not to come off as overeager. Rachel hasn’t had any luck finding an internship for after graduation. She smacks my arm with the back of her hand.

“Ivy! That’s incredible! Tell me about it,” she begs, eyes wide as she takes an unhealthy-sized scoop of ice cream. It baffles me that she can eat such crap and still look like she just stepped off the runway.

“Well, I don’t
officially
have the interview yet. But Professor Whitman is recommending me to a friend of his for an Associate Curator position. In New York City.” Rachel screams and tackles me in another bear hug, overcome with excitement.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Settle down, Rachel. I don’t even have the interview scheduled.”

“But you will, and you’ll absolutely get it. I mean, have you met you?”

I laugh at her energy. Some things never change with Rachel and me. I am the Daria to her Quinn. She is the Prozac to my Valium. We are the perfect balance of sweetness and cynicism.

“This calls for a celebration!” She jumps up and drags me into her bedroom. “Screw jetlag, we’re going out tonight,” she announces prolifically.

“Oh, we are? And where exactly are we going?”

If I’m being entirely honest, I really wouldn’t mind crashing early tonight, but it would be nice to party with folks who actually speak the same language. Plus it’s graduation weekend, so it will be the last chance I have to see a lot of my old classmates.

“There’s a party at some house down by Lake Mendota. No idea who’s throwing it, but Cassie told me the whole gang will be there. Should be a good time.”

“Really? A house party?” I whine. I can’t believe she thinks this is a good way to kick off graduation festivities. We haven’t stepped foot inside a house party since spring semester freshman year when we scored our fake IDs.

“It should be fun,” she reassured. “Let’s stop by for a little bit and if we aren’t having fun, I promise we can leave and hit up The Great Dane.”

She knows just how to placate me. I love that pub and had spent most of my free time there two years ago. “Fine. But I’m holding you to that.”

Rachel leaves me with Ben and Jerry, shooting me a flirtatious wink before sashaying into her bathroom to get ready.